Wire connecter



June 12, 1928. 1,673,135

c. s. BEARDSLEY WIRE CONNECTER Filed June 27. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Charles 6'. Beardsley [a In ventor' WW Atornfyi June 12. 1928. 1,673,135

c. s. BEARDSLEY WIRE CONNECTER Filed June 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Char-205$. Beardslej j w am Attorneys.

Patented June 12, 1928.

-UNITED STATE-S CHARLES s. BEAR-DSLEY, or EAST CLEVELAND, oHro.

WIRE oonnno'rna.

Application filed .Tune 27, 1925.

This invention relates to wire connecters and has for its object the provision of a small, simple, and inexpensive device forthe detachable connection of a wire to a piece of electrical apparatus in electrically conductive relation. It is desirable that such an article be made of a single piece of material, that it be of a construction readily manufactured from sheet metal, that it should, contain no loose parts, that it be equally applicable to fine wire or coarse wire, stifl wire or liinber wire, that it have a scraping contact so as to remove oil, rust, etc. from the wire and thereby produce better electric contact, that it be so compact as neither to obstruct other apparatus nor itself be subject to injury, and that itbe susceptible of easy manipulation 1n dark or crowded places or with one hand and with a maximum of facility. All these advantages,

and otheradvantages which will be pointed out as the description.proceeds, are exhibited by my invention, one embodiment ot wh ch is illustrated in the drawings accompanying 2 and forming a part of this application.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apart of a battery having three of my improved connecters afiixed thereto; Fig. 2 1s a top plan "iew; Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig, 4 110 a central longitudinal section of one ofthe connecters shown in Fig. 1; Fig. '51s a top plan view and'Fig. 6 a cross section of a modification; Fig. 7 is a cross section corresponding to the line 7-7 of Figs t2, 3, and 4:; Fig. 8 is a similar sectionalwiew of another modification;1*igu9 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 8; Fig. '10 illustrates another modification; Fig. 11 is a detail View showing the mode of attaching a wire to such a connecter; Fig. '12 is a perspective View of another modification; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the blank from which the device shown in Fig. 12 is made; Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 12; and Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 12.

My improved connecter is made of a single piece of sheet metal, preferably of ductile, somewhat elastic, substantially non-corrodible nature, such as brass, and comprises a fiat body portion 1 having one side folded over as shown at 2y'to form a grip'3. This fold may either be rounded as'illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, or may be sharp as shown at 2 in Fig. 9. The lower face of the grip 3 normally lies close to the upper Serial No. 39,944.

face of the body 1, although its marginal portion is slanted away from said body as illustrated at 4 so as to facilitate the introduction of the wire therebeneath, whereupon the grip becomes wedged away from the body by a greater or less amount as shown in Fig. 4, depending upon the diameter of the wire and the extent to which it is drawn into the crack between the two portions of the connecter.

The body 1 is formed at one side of the grip with rigid projection 5 constituting an anchorage or fulcrum for the wire, this projection being formed with a recess 6 at some pointbetween the two ends oi the grip and preferably near the fold 2. In Figs. 1 and 3 this recess takes the form of an open notch, which is much the preferable arrangement, although in Figs. 8; and 9 it takes the form of an aperture 6 which is operative but not so convenient. The projection 5 is spaced at sufiicient distance from the side of the grip to enable the free insertion of the wire which is to'be connected.

In additionto the foregoing essentialparts the body 1 is also suitably formed for attachment to some other pieceof apparatus, for example, the elongated extension 10 which being flexible can 'be bent in any direction desired as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 and is best used 'by being soldered to the apparatus with which it is employed. In Fig. 1 Iliave shown three of these devices as connected to a dry battery of the type used in radio work known as a B battery. The extensions 10 are soldered to the battery ele merits 11 inside'the-paper casing 12,the body l projecting outside of this casing and lying flat on one wall of the battery. Inasmuch as these devices are very cheap they can be used inlarge quantity with minimum expense and inasmuch as they project very little, they neither impede the handlingof the battery nor are they subject to accidental injury.

To attach a wire 15 thereto the same is first laid'longitudinallyin the space between the grip 3 and projection 5 as indicated at a in Fig. 11, after which the'body of the wire is swung side-ways as indicated by the are 7), thereby introducing it beneath the-slanting margin 1 and wedging the v:grip away .from the body 1. In case the wire be thick and stiff this movement also serves to bring its end into the recess 6, (assuming the same to be of "the open noteh construction) and further swinging of the wire as indicated by the are 0 serves still further-to wedge the same underneath the grip, the projection 5 constituting a fulcrum for such movement. On the other hand ifthe wire be of a limber. nature its end is first bent laterally about the projection 5 as shown at 16 in Fig. 1 so as to anchor it against longitudinal movement after which the body of the wire is drawn underneath the grip in the same manner..

other part'of the same, either the grip asshown at 3 in Figs. o'and 6 or the body as shown at 1 in Figs. 8 and 9. In Fig. 5'

I have shown these'corrugations as extending entirely around the bend, thereby increasing the stiffness of the same. .In any event these corrugations tend to concentrate ,upon the wire the pinching effect and. friction of the parts thereby enhancing the closeness of'the contact. It is not necessary that the device be made from one piece of metal as it may be built up in many ways, one of which is shown in Fig. 10 wherein the grip 3 is riveted to the body 1.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive the body portion 1, fold 2F and grip-3 appear as before excepting that the fold 2 is increased in radius and also extended at the two ends to form projections 5, preferably beyond the limits of the body member. The back of this fold is formed at each side with an aperture 6 adapted for the reception of one end of the wire which is to be attached, while the margin of the grip 3 is turned up, preferably all the way around as shown at 4. Any suitable means, such as the extension 10 is providedfor so: curing this connector to the apparatus with which it is used. 7

In order to "attach a wire thereto, the end of the wire is first inserted into one of the apertures 6 after which the end of the wire if sufficiently flexible is bent in one direction or another to impede its withdrawal after which the body of the entire wire is swung and drawn laterally into the. crack between the body and grip. In case the wire is too stiff to be conveniently bent after passing the hole 6", it is by the same token sutticiently stiff not to require such bending, and can be pulled underneath the grip without this precaution. By having a projection on each side certain operative advantages are secured as will be well understood.

It will be understood that while I have Owing to the simnecessarily illustrated in detail a specific embodiment of my invention, my inventive idea may be embodied in other specific forms since 'many ofthe subsidiary features herein shown are not essential to the successful performance of my invention; and while I have shown it as used with a battery it is equally usable with other electrical devices; wherefore I do not limit myself to any of the details illustrated or described excepting as the same are specifically recited in my several claims which I desire may he construed each independently of limitations projection constituting a fulcrum for said wire when the same is swung beneath said grip and said. grip being elastic so as to yield as the wire is'wedged therebeneath.

2. Aavire connector comprising a sheet metal body part having two substantially perpendicular margins, a lip projecting from one margin and constituting a' fulcrum for a wire laid thereagainst, and a grip united to the other. margin and closely overlying'the face of said body part so as to define therewith a narrow-crack adapted to receive .such wire as it is swung laterally from said fulcrum, the margin of said grip being spaced from said lip suiiiciently to permit the introduction of they wirebetween them and such margin also being slanted away from the body part to facilitate the introduction of the wire.

3. A wire connecter comprising a sheet metal body part having two substantially perpendicular margins, an upturned integral lip projecting from one margin and a folded-over part integral with the other margin and having its face brought close tothe face of said body part so as to define a narrow, wire-receiving crack therewith, said folded-over part constituting an elastic grip and having its free margins slanted away from said body portion so as to facilitate the introduction of a wire sidewise into said crack, and said lip having a recess adapted to receive said wire and hold it locally during suchsidewise movement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. i

CHARLES s. enannsnnr.

in comi. to 

